On 10th April 2021, La Soufriere volcano in Saint Vincent erupted, causing devastation to 75% of illegal weed plots which have been growing in the super soil for over 60 years. The impact and devastation of the volcano amounted to the displacement of 20% of the population, prompting the UN to offer $29 million to help the island recover from the destruction caused by the volcano.
VICE World News interviewed a weed farmer, who went by the pseudonym Bryan, to discuss the implications of the consequences of the volcano. He mentioned that it would take over a year to recover from the eruption which would massively impact his cannabis farm, his main source of income. He stated that “all the plants were buried in ash” and that “everything” was destroyed, highlighting the severity of the mass destruction.
Saint Vincent is home to just over 100,000 people; the eruption caused white dust and mudslides which completely destroyed over half of the marijuana farms, establishments that are major contenders in the underground economy of Saint Vincent.
Bryan is subsequently searching for vacant land on the southern side of the island, that was least affected by the volcanic damage, to reinitiate his business. He is one of approximately 16,000 people who are searching for new land since the volcanic eruption destroyed their farms and homes. These families are now living in shelters or residing in homes with close friends or family, a concern during the pandemic as it means Covid-19 has a more active breeding ground.
Additionally, the eruption has exposed a divide between illegal and legal marijuana businesses. Although legal cultivation farms managed to escape major destruction caused by the eruption due to their positioning on the island, they have also received support from government funding. However, almost 75% of illegal cannabis plantations have been destroyed by the eruption, without government support, with losses amounting to millions of dollars, as documented by the Medicinal Cannabis Authority.
Saint Vincent is home to a history of cannabis farming and this eruption will have detrimental consequences to the island’s economy. The director of the Medicinal Cannabis Authority, Jerrol Thompson, highlighted the importance of cannabis farming stating that “there have been several generations of families involved in traditional cultivation.”
With Rastafarians establishing the cannabis farming movement sixty years ago, the La Soufriere volcano has been home to the St Vincent marijuana industry. An original strain of marijuana was founded by “traditional cultivators”, specially adapted to the island’s climate. St Vincent’s soil is home to less than 1% of the Earth’s soil; known as super-soil, it contains a variety of nutrients that benefit the growth of cannabis and other fruits and vegetables.
Marijuana was legalized in St Vincent in 2018 for medicinal purposes which prompted the establishment of legalized, licensed farms. Foreign companies have invested in these farms to monopolize on the “volcanic weed”, hoping to export to other parts of the Caribbean, North America, and Europe.
Traditional cultivators now need to resort to selling to locals on the island, however many have stated that it will be “very difficult” to just rely on this trade. Illegal cannabis farmers have not received financial support from the government. However, the Medicinal Cannabis Authority is prompting local businesses to apply for kickstart schemes to encourage them to contribute to the legal industry. The government has stated that they intend to “assist illegal cultivators with recovery”, stating that a lot can be learned from “traditional cultivators”.
However, since the volcanic eruption, St Vincent’s presence in global affairs and media has been completely amplified, placing them on the map. Medicinal companies also have plans to sell their products from their most recent harvest. The Medicinal Authority hopes to receive investment from the UK to send its next shipments of marijuana to Europe to truly cement St Vincent’s position.
For more information about recent updates in the cannabis industry, check out this article.
